LG's V30S - an AI version of the V30

I liked the LG V30, finding its successor was going to be hard. LG had some issues itself in terms of being profitable in the handset division (which, really, I'm scratching my head over, as I've loved all their phones and I have seen their phone in a lot of hands, especially in southern Ontario). So the whole idea of what will be their next phone was a bit of confusion.

Then (and I can't believe I missed reporting on this earlier) at Mobile World Congress they announce the LG V30S ThinQ.

A revamped LG V30 with new AI.
First up, I'm not overly enthused at just adding the S to the end of a model number. We're not Apple.

Essentially, they took the V30, and added in the new AI brain to its cameras. AI Cam and QLens.

The processor is the same, the ... oh, they upped the storage to 128GB and put in 6GB of RAM. So there is the difference there.

Aside from that, the same.

The main reason to look at this will be their new AI features they announced at the start of MWC. It's interesting that the non-S variant isn't just getting a software update (is there some chip necessary?).

So the new AI will help with:

AI CAM - setting the appropriate setting dependant on the scene

QLens - recognizing what the item in the viewfinder is and let you shop for it

BARCELONA, Feb. 25, 2018 — LG Electronics (LG) is debuting its first ThinQ mobile device this week at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. Building on the foundation of the LG V30 platform, the LG V30S ThinQ integrates new AI technologies into the most commonly used features that are closely aligned to the needs and usage behavior of consumers today. ThinQ was introduced at CES 2018 to identify all of LG’s home appliances, consumer electronics and services that utilize artificial intelligence. With the vision of becoming a human-centered AI company that puts consumers first, LG’s vision for ThinQ is to promote artificial intelligence as an approachable and less intimidating technology.

LG began working on making differentiated and intuitive AI-based solutions for the most commonly used smartphones features more than a year ago. With a particular focus on the camera and voice recognition, the resulting Vision AI delivers a smarter camera that is even easier to use, while Voice AI enhances the breadth of spoken commands in the latest smartphone.

Vision AI: Making Photography Intuitive

Vision AI includes three new intelligent camera features: AI CAM, QLens and Bright Mode that automates and enhances the smartphone image capturing experience for novice as well as experienced shutterbugs.

AI CAM analyzes subjects in the frame and recommends the optimal shooting mode among eight categories: portrait, food, pet, landscape, city, flower, sunrise, and sunset. Each mode enhances the characteristics of the subject taking into account factors such as the viewing angle, color, reflections, lighting, and saturation level.

QLens takes further advantage of the image recognition capabilities of the AI technology to scan QR codes to improve the online shopping experience. Capture an item of interest with QLens to get information as to where to buy the product online at the lowest price as well as recommendations of similar items. Perform an image search with QLens to see matching or similar images of food, fashion and celebrities or detailed information of landmarks such as buildings and statues.

Low light photography on the LG V30S ThinQ gets a huge boost with Bright Mode. Instead of measuring only ambient light like most smartphone cameras, this AI feature uses algorithms to brighten images by a factor of two for better looking photos without the noise.

Voice AI: LG-Exclusive Voice Commands

Another new feature is Voice AI that allows users to run apps and change settings through voice commands alone. Working alongside Google Assistant, the LG-exclusive Voice AI commands eliminates the need to search through menu options and allows for direct selection of specific functions.More Memory, More Storage, More Colors

The LG V30S ThinQ takes the “flagship” nomenclature to a new level with upgraded features that would satisfy even the most demanding customer. With 6GB of RAM, smooth multitasking and faster performance is virtually guaranteed and storage capacities of 128GB in the LG V30S ThinQ and 256GB in the LG V30S+ ThinQ means that customers will never run out of space. In the rare event that does happen, the microSD slot provides even more storage, up to 2TB.

Still the thinnest and lightest among smartphones with displays of 6 inches or more, the LG V30S ThinQ is no slouch in the toughness and durability category, having passed 14 MIL-STD 810G tests approved by the US Department of Defense. The New Moroccan Blue color has been updated with a green tint while New Platinum Gray gives the device a sophisticated, elegant look. Both devices feature a lenticular finish on the back that displays different hues under certain lighting conditions.

Expanding the Smartphone AI Experience

The AI suite of technologies in the LG V30S ThinQ is the just the beginning of the company’s renewed strategy to create more intelligent smartphones that puts consumers’ needs above all else. While the LG V30S ThinQ offers such advanced features out of the box, certain phones from LG will receive key AI features in future updates delivered over-the-air. Additional LG smartphones will be considered for future AI upgrades, depending on hardware and other factors for the best user experience.

“Many companies talk about AI but we’re already delivering on our promise by integrating intelligent technology in the LG V30S ThinQ to features most commonly used by our customers for a whole new level of convenience never before available in a smartphone of this caliber,” said Hwang Jeong-hwan, president of LG Mobile Communications Company. “And we will continue to introduce new AI capabilities to enhance usability and to demonstrate to our customers that we are committed to delivering a great user experience that continues long after the purchase of an LG phone.”